[Watch video interview] Claudia L Romeu, Program Manager, RISE UP and noted advocate for gender justice for girls and young people, was in conversation with CNS Special Correspondent Rahul Kumar Dwivedi, at the 5th International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP 2018) in Kigali, Rwanda.

Claudia shares why power of local leadership among young people, especially girls, is key for changing ground realities related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). She also shares that currently RISE UP is recruiting its third round of YOUTH CHAMPIONS, from countries: India, Pakistan, Rwanda, Ethiopia and USA. She shares her insights that girls and youth have similar challenges related to SRHR. Two prominent challenges include: 1) lack of access to reliable, medically-sound evidence-based information and truly comprehensive sexual education, in their own contexts and realities; and 2) girls have a hard time accessing youth-friendly medical sexual and reproductive health services which are respectful to their stories, experiences, contexts and circumstances.

Claudia Romeu also reflects if we are making progress on FP2020 targets. She shares that although there is considerable progress such as maternal mortality has come down, under 5 mortality rates have declined among children, adolsent birth rates have reduced; among other partial successes; but still lot a to of work still needs to be done to deliver on promises of FP2020 targets as well as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of the ways she suggests to improve responses, is to learn from the field, collaborate and work together! She calls upon the young people to get outside of their comfort zones, and challenge other people’s beliefs as well as themselves, and think differently.

‘Focus’ is a CNS video series on current global health and development priorities. This is episode 159. Rahul Dwivedi's CNS articles, videos, podcasts are online at: www.bit.ly/RahulDwivedi

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